Page 243 of Cursed Evermore
“I'm so sorry.”
Me too.
She let go, my hands falling to my sides slowly. I gave her a small nod and turned, pushing through the crowd. People shifted out of the way, some whispering as I passed by. No doubt they'd seen me dancing with Wolfe and had a thing or two more to say about me.
The thought made the air feel too thick and suffocating. Like the walls were closing in on me. I needed to escape before I unraveled in front of all these strangers.
I quickened my pace and finally made it to the doors. Cool night air hit my face as I stepped onto the terrace. The carriage was just across the courtyard. Another three to four minutes and I'd be there.
My breath hitched as the first tear slid down my cheek.
Shit.I couldn't cry over this. It was stupid. But another tear followed. And another.
More stupid tears spilled as my foolish heart ached. I shook my head at myself and kept walking, refusing to look back.
I wasn’t like most girls. I had no experience with men, no casual flings to compare this to, no practiced indifference to brush it off. All I knew was that I was hurt—deeply. I didn’t understand how Wolfe could look me in the eyes, say the thingshe’d said, dance with me as if I mattered… while knowing he was bound to another woman.
Why would he do that? Why would he make me believe I was important, only to rip the ground from beneath me?
But... this was my fault. My very foolish mistake, indeed, for forgetting reality.
It wasn’t as if I’d met Wolfe under normal circumstances. Why would I lose my head over him? Why would I lose my heart?
Besides, wasn’t I supposed to marry Thayden? True, it wasn’t the same situation. Wolfe knew I was promised to Thayden to save my family and he knew I had no feelings whatsoever for him. But perhaps I was the pot calling the kettle black. Nevertheless, that didn't ease the pain.
Somewhere in the chaos of madness and reason I’d fallen for my Hades, but he was promised to another woman.
The shadows in the cluster of willows ahead thickened. Wolfe stepped out of them before I could even catch my breath.
I stopped short, startled at first, then the ache returned, pulling me under.
“Elariya.” Wolfe came closer, his face carved with regret and something fiercer, something unrelenting.
“Don't.” I shook my head and raised my hand. “Just... don't.”
The pain in his eyes nearly broke me.Almost.It was the first time I'd seen him look this way, but it didn't change anything.
“You have to let me explain?—”
“Explain what? How you made me believe I actually meant something to you while you were promised to marry someone else? Is that what you need to explain?” My voice shook, barely controlled.
“It's complicated.”
“Then there is nothing to explain. You don't owe me anything, and I don't owe you anything, either.”
I tried to push past him, but his hand closed around my arm, dragging me back. “Elariya, I didn't know my uncle was going to announce an engagement.”
The shadows writhed around him, mirroring his storm, but I didn’t care.
“That's not the point. The point is you must have known your uncle was going to marry you off. Don't lie to me and tell me you didn't know.”
“I knew.” His confession pierced straight through me, splitting my wound wider. “But I never agreed to it.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Your uncle seems to think otherwise.”
“I don't fucking care what he thinks.”
“You should care. You’re not even supposed to be with me. I’m practically engaged to Thayden.”
